U.K. Legalizes Medical Cannabis by Prescription

Beginning yesterday, November 1, doctors in Britain are allowed to legally prescribe medical cannabis, reports The New York Times.

The change was announced on Thursday by Home Secretary Sajid Javid, and comes after he called for an urgent review of cannabis-based medicinal products over the summer. Javid’s office said in July it had decided that “senior clinicians will be able to prescribe the medicines to patients with an exceptional clinical need.”

On Thursday Javid said that “Having been moved by heartbreaking cases involving sick children, it was important to me that we took swift action to help those who can benefit from medicinal cannabis.”

The home secretary commissioned the review after the cannabis-based medicine of Billy Caldwell, 12, who has life-threatening epileptic seizures, was confiscated at Heathrow Airport on June 11. The case was publicized in the British news media and prompted a national discussion on the legalization of medicinal cannabis products.

Earlier, the mother of 6-year-old Alfie Dingley, who also has up to 150 seizures a month, said that Prime Minister Theresa May had promised to help explore alternative treatments for the boy, but that she never followed through.

Mr. Javid later announced that the British government would allow both Alfie and Billy temporary special licenses to legally take marijuana-based treatment.

“We have now delivered on our promise and specialist doctors will have the option to prescribe these products where there is a real need,” the home secretary said on Thursday.

General practice doctors will not be authorized to prescribe the cannabis-based medicines, the Home Office noted, and prescription decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis — “only when the patient has an unmet special clinical need that cannot be met by licensed products,” the statement read.

The measures apply to England, Wales, and Scotland, while Northern Ireland intends to undertake similar legislative amendments.